"Do you know, since last winter I have had a great pleasure," and Halcyone's grave, intent eyes looked up into the old gentleman's face. "There was a terrible storm in February--but can you really keep a secret?"--and then, as he nodded his head seriously, she went on. "It blew down a narrow piece of the paneling in the long gallery--it is next to my room, you know--and I heard the noise in the night and lit a candle and went to see. Some of the window panes are broken, so it is very blustery there in storms. Well, there was a door behind it--a secret door! I was so excited, but I could not keep the candle alight and it was very cold. I saw nothing was broken--only the wind had dislodged the spring. I was able to push it back and pull a little chest against it, and wait till morning. And then what do you think I found?--it led to a staircase in the thickness of the wall, which went down and down until it came to a door right below the cellar--it took me days of dodging Mademoiselle and Priscilla to carry down oil and things to help me to open it--and then it came out in a hollow archway on the second terrace, which has a stone bench in it, and is where old William keeps his tools. It is so cleverly done you could never see it; it looks just as if it was no door, but was only there for ornament. You may fancy I never told anyone! It is my secret--and yours now--and it enabled me to do what I have always longed to do--go out in the night!" "You go out in the night all alone!" exclaimed Cheiron, almost aghast. "But of course," said Halcyone. "You cannot think of the joy when there is a moon and stars; and some of the night creatures are such friends--they teach me wonderful things. Only the dreadful difficulty is in avoiding Priscilla--she sleeps in the dressing-room next me. I love her better than anyone else in the world, but she could never understand--she would only worry about the wet feet and clothes being spoilt. I always think it is so fortunate though, don't you, that servants--even a dear like Priscilla--sleep so soundly. Aunt Ginevra says they can't help it, every class has its peculiarity." Mr. Carlyon was extremely interested--he wanted to hear more of these adventures. "How do you avoid Priscilla seeing your things in the morning then?" he asked. "I have got a pair of big gutta-percha boots--they were my father's waders once, and I found them, and have hidden them in one of the chests, and I tuck everything into them--so there are no marks. It is enchanting." "And do you often have these nocturnal outings, you odd little girl?" Cheiron said, wonderingly. "Not very. I have to be so careful, you see--and I only choose moonlight or starlight nights, and they are rare--but when the summer comes I hope to enjoy many more of them."